Bower sure Lions will get their reward

IT is probably not advisable talking about fine margins when Mark Bower is in close proximity, writes LEON WOBSCHALL.

IT is probably not advisable talking about fine margins when Mark Bower is in close proximity.

For seemingly the umpteenth time in recent weeks, 19th-placed Guiseley produced a game performance at the weekend, only to fail to pick up a cherished three points in a 2-0 home loss to National League champions elect Cheltenham Town, with the fixture list affording them few favours with play-off chasing Wrexham next up tonight in a rearranged game.

It promises to be another occasion not for the faint-hearted at Nethermoor, where the home faithful have now not savoured the sweet sensation of league victory since November 28.

Weekend results elsewhere at the bottom, not for the first time of late, ensured that the sixth-from-bottom Lions remain out of the drop zone by two points.

But Bower does not need to be told twice that his side must eke out at least one win from somewhere in the remaining four games if they are to be heralding safety come the end of the season.

Not that Bower is dissatisfied with many aspects of his side’s play, with the Lions chief adamant that Guiseley are doing plenty right, but are currently just lacking that priceless commodity so pivotal at this time of year - a cutting edge. Alongside an element of fortune.

They hope to finally receive that this evening against the eighth-placed Red Dragons, who were extremely fortunate to escape with a stoppage-time point in a 3-3 draw in the reverse fixture at the Racecourse Ground earlier this season.

The Welshmen’s top-five bid is looking remote after a 1-0 weekend home loss to Dover and they trail fifth-placed Tranmere Rovers by six points, with manager Gary Mills admitting his side will have to win all of their remaining games to clinch a play-off spot.

But Bower has his own pending business to attend to.

Bower, whose side have not won a league game for 11 matches since winning 1-0 at Woking on February 13 said: “I cannot fault them in terms of effort and commitment and we are working our socks off.

“We played well against Cheltenham and we have to take a lot of the performance forward, but look to try and get some goals on Tuesday night, which is a massive, massive game for us.”

On the threat posed by Wrexham, Bower added: “Wrexham beat Cheltenham last week and are a very good side and are looking for results to get into the play-offs.

“It will be a big test and a good atmosphere again and the lads have got to stand up and be counted and they did that on Saturday and must go again.

“Results still went for us at the weekend and we still have that two-point cushion outside of the bottom four.

“But we can’t keep relying on that. But a lot of what we have been doing has been good in the past couple of months. It’s just turning those little fine margins and small percentages.”

Selection issues are also compounding Guiseley’s recent winless run, with loan striker Emile Sinclair likely to miss tonight’s game with the Red Dragons after coming off with a hamstring problem in Saturday’s reverse to Cheltenham.